April 2026

In school we will be supporting the children to think about their own mental health using the zones of regulation to identify and manage their feelings. We will also encourage children to recognise and help their friends who might be having big feelings, as we all do sometimes.  This work links closely with our Dinnington ROCKS school values of Resilience, being Open to New Experiences, Community Spirit, Kindness and Success. See here on the school website for more information about our school vision and values. Every month our Wellbeing Lead Ms Tustin puts up an Action for Happiness Calendar around the school for the staff which we all find useful, you can download yours here for an idea every day to support your own wellbeing. Meaningful May Calendar. In school there are lots of things happening that are exciting and building the children’s resilience, confidence and wellbeing. All our varied enrichment clubs on Fridays are aimed at giving children a chance to try a range of fun activities that broaden their experiences and build confidence.

In addition our lunch time and after school clubs like Choir, Football, Musical Theatre etc all benefit the mental health of the children. There are musical performance trips planned for Y1, 2, 3, and 4 and for choir, so the sound of singing is ringing throughout the school! Another great thing about this time of year is that lots of children are becoming more confident and making good progress in their learning, which in turn really improves their confidence and wellbeing in general.

Ms Tustin, Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead

Nursery News

Last half term our focus in Nursery was Farm to Food. Each week we looked at a particular farm animal and our activities were based around them. When we looked at cows, we learnt that they give us milk so we made our own ice cream, this was so much fun. We also had an ice cream parlour in our role play area.

One week we looked at pigs – one of the meats we get from a pig is ham so we made our own sandwiches with ham or cheese. They were really yummy! On World Book Day we came to Nursery in our pyjamas and brought our favourite story book which we read with our friends.

During STEM week we carried out various tasks – one of the tasks was to make nests in the forest and see how many eggs could fit in them. We worked really well together.

We had a great day when our adults came into Nursery for ‘Stay and Play’, they even did Dough Disco with us. Our new theme is ‘Once upon a Time’ focussing on fairytales. We have been reading ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ - this is a sample of the amazing work we do in our Scribbles Matter books.

Reception News

Before Easter, the children in Reception had a lovely time on their trip to Hall Hill Farm. The trip helped to consolidate their learning about farms, the season of Spring, and animals and their babies. We had a ride around the farm on a tractor trailer, we fed the animals and we very carefully held baby chicks and guinea pigs. The children all thoroughly enjoyed themselves and their behaviour was excellent.

This Block of learning's topic for Reception is Heroes and Villains, and we are reading and learning about many different traditional tales and alternative versions of them. We know all about the story of the Three Little Pigs and this week we even did an experiment called the 'Big Bad Hairdryer' to see which materials would make strong houses.

Year 1 News

This half term has been full of excitement, creativity, and fantastic learning across the curriculum. In English, the children have been creating their very own African travel journals, using similes to bring their writing to life. Their descriptions have been wonderfully imaginative — it’s been a joy to see them experimenting with language and growing in confidence as young writers. In Maths, we have been exploring the importance of money, and the children have shown brilliant progress in recognising both coins and notes. Many pupils can now confidently identify different values and explain how money is used in everyday life. In Computing, the class have been busy designing their own animated storybooks. Their creativity has really shone through, and they have demonstrated impressive digital skills while bringing their stories to life on screen. There have been so many successes to celebrate. We have been especially impressed by the children’s increased confidence, teamwork, and independence. Pupils have produced outstanding work, and we are incredibly proud of the effort and enthusiasm shown by everyone.

Our classrooms have also been bursting with artistic energy. The children have created beautiful artwork inspired by African patterns and wildlife, and their finished pieces show great imagination, attention to detail, and pride in their work. We look forward to displaying these around the school for everyone to enjoy. We also enjoyed a wonderful visit to Beamish Museum, where the children took part in a fascinating toy workshop. They explored toys from the past, compared them with the toys they use today, and even had the chance to make their own traditional toy. This hands‑on experience really helped bring our history learning to life and sparked lots of thoughtful discussion back in the classroom.

Year 2 News

We have had a wonderful few weeks in year 2. In English, the children have been busy writing non-chronological reports to share facts about pirates. In Maths, we have been practicing our measuring skills using centimeters and meters to see how long or tall things are. Our Science lessons have been full of discovery as we learn how plants and animals depend on each other in food chains, and in RE, we have enjoyed learning about the traditions of Sikhism. We’ve also been staying active in PE by heading outside to learn the basics of golf.

The children have come back full of energy and are doing a great job with their learning.

Year 3 News

Year 3 have had an incredibly exciting and productive time, filled with curiosity, creativity and lots of hands‑on learning. We all enjoyed a fantastic STEM Week, where scientific enquiry was at the heart of everything we did. The children explored a wide range of fascinating topics, from outer space to radiography, and thoroughly enjoyed getting involved in practical investigations. The Skittles and water experiment was a particular highlight, creating plenty of colourful excitement and thoughtful discussion. Do ask your child about their favourite moment — they will certainly have lots to tell you!

Building on the momentum of STEM Week, the children also took part in our annual Dinnington’s Got Talent Assembly, where our pupils truly shone. From music and dance to comedy and magic, the performances were a joy to watch and a wonderful celebration of confidence, creativity and community spirit. We have also recently completed our second major Design and Technology project. The children practised running stitch and cross stitch, designing, creating and then evaluating their work — just like real engineers. They took great pride in their creations, and this is a skill that could easily be developed further at home if you wish.

Finally, we have been making the most of the improved weather, enjoying more outdoor learning. Basketball has quickly become a firm favourite, and woodland sessions have provided exciting opportunities for exploration and discovery. Long may the sunshine continue! It has truly been a wonderful time in Year 3 — well done to all our fantastic pupils.

Year 4 News

Frozen Performance In March, Year 4 enjoyed a visit to Gosforth East Middle School to watch their fantastic production of Frozen. The performance was truly inspiring and gave the children a brilliant insight into what it is like to be part of the drama scene at a middle school. As many of our Year 4 pupils will be attending this school next year, it was a wonderful opportunity to spark excitement and confidence about the next stage of their journey.

Gymnastics  Year 4 delivered some fantastic routines at their Gymnastics competition at the City of Newcastle Gymnastics Academy. Every child confidently showcased new skills and demonstrated excellent resilience throughout the event. Some pupils were even rewarded with medals and Star Performer trophies. A huge well done to everyone involved – we are so proud of you all!

Robinwood Residential  Our recent trip to Robinwood was a huge success, and we were incredibly proud of all the children. They showed outstanding resilience, openness to new experiences and determination as they tried every activity on offer. Firm favourites included the piranha pool, the giant swing and archery, alongside lots of fun teamwork challenges. The children even got their own back during the mummy challenge — where the teachers were expertly wrapped up! A memorable experience for everyone involved.